Ireland’s Largest Community Childcare Centre at Risk of Immediate
Closure

250 Children at Risk without immediate Government Assistance

98 Full Time and Part Time Jobs on the Line

May 10, 2014 04:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The country’s largest community childcare centre today calls on the
Government to urgently increase funding or it faces imminent closure.
The Darndale Belcamp Integrated Childcare Service, located on Dublin’s
Northside, has experienced funding cuts over the last number of years
that have now placed the centre in a severe financial crisis.

The Centre is a vital family support in an area where many families
experience multiple challenges. Early intervention is extremely
important for children in these circumstances and without the support of
the Centre, some children are put at immediate risk of underachievement.
The Centre acts as a crucial resource for parents, enabling them to
access training, education and employment opportunities. It employs 48
permanent staff, 7 relief staff and 43 Community Employment, Jobs
Initiative and TUS employees.

The Board and Management have advised the relevant agencies over the
past few years that the cuts were unsustainable. Vigorous lobbying of
Public Representatives, Government Agencies and Departments over the
past few months has not met with success. Last week staff were formally
notified of the risk of redundancy and parents of the risk of closure.
The Board is now appealing directly to the Minister for Children and
Youth Affairs, Charles Flanagan, to take immediate action to provide the
funding both short and long term to ensure the centre stays open.

With 250 children in attendance daily, most under the age of 6 years,
the Darndale Belcamp Integrated Childcare Service needs a €200,000 cash
injection to secure the centre to the end of 2014. A further €200,000
will be required annually to provide a sustainable solution for this
much needed service. Previous cuts in funding were partially covered
through private funding, staff paycuts and other cost cutting measures
but there is no more scope in these areas. The centre will be forced to
shut its doors unless the Government intervenes immediately.

The work of the centre has been recognised on a national level,
receiving praise from a number of Government officials over the years.
In 2013, the centre received the prestigious Síolta Award from the
Department of Education and Skills, recognising quality assurance in
early childhood care and education. The Centre has the full support of
local HSE and TUSLA management and is held in esteem across the Early
Childhood Education sector. The Centre is part of the local area
response to safeguarding children and at any time can have 40 children
referred in through the social work team.

Ciarán Mulhall, Chairman of the Voluntary Board of Management commented; “The
centre is the largest of its kind in the country and our aim is to
promote the physical, emotional, social and educational well-being of
the children. The closure will have a detrimental effect on the area and
vulnerable children will be put at immediate risk. We are a feeder for
three local DEIS schools in the area and the development that the
children receive at the centre is vital for their progress in education.
We are pleading with the Government for this much needed funding in
order to protect the centre, its children and the jobs of our employees”.

About Darndale Belcamp Integrated Childcare Service

The Darndale Belcamp Integrated Childcare Service Ltd, located on the
Northside of Dublin City, was established in January 2001. The centre’s
mission is to provide an integrated service to meet the increasing needs
of the community for high quality, safe, affordable and inclusive
childcare services. The centre promotes the physical, emotional, social
and educational well-being of the children and a strong foundation for
their lifelong learning.